A rather lengthy law enforcement pursuit near the start of Unbound Gravel race activity early Saturday led to injuries for a Lyon County deputy and arrests for two people.
Lyon County Sheriff Jeff Cope says deputies were part of the traffic control effort for Unbound Gravel north of Emporia when a pickup truck disobeyed traffic control measures and drove through the Road 240 and J intersection without slowing down. A deputy pursued the truck eastbound on Road 240, and the chase went to Roads 250 and S before the truck turned back to the west. Cope says deputies ended the chase when the truck went through the intersection of Kansas Highway 99 and Road 250 without stopping.
As the chase unfolded, deputies repositioned their vehicles to prevent the truck from affecting the Unbound route. Around 10 minutes after the chase started, Cope says the truck passed a stationary deputy at K-99 and Road 240. Shortly afterward, a deputy at 240 and J blocked Road 240 with his vehicle. The truck went east, passed three deputies and failed to stop before turning south onto K-99, prompting a decision by deputies to disable the truck. A deputy, identified by the Kansas Highway Patrol as 54-year-old Doug Stump of Emporia, got his cruiser in front of the pickup in the 2200 block of K-99 as a way to slow down, but the truck tried to pass the cruiser in the east ditch, hit the cruiser while coming out of the ditch and sent the car into the west ditch where it rolled. Stump was taken to Newman Regional Health for observation and possible treatment and was subsequently released.
Meanwhile, the truck continued south to Emporia and became the subject of a search involving deputies and Emporia Police. Officers found the truck at Eighth and Merchant about 30 minutes after the incident started, blocked the truck and removed the two occupants who initially refused to leave the truck.
The driver, 32-year-old Kaitlynn Mundell of Emporia, has been booked on suspicion of aggravated battery on law enforcement, possession of an unspecified controlled substance and traffic counts. The passenger, 42-year-old Preston Ashburn of Emporia, has been booked on suspicion of obstructing legal process and possession of an unspecified controlled substance.
Formal charges are pending.
8 am Saturday: Alleged chase near start of Unbound 200 launches sends Lyon County deputy to hospital
A Lyon County deputy was hurt in an apparent law enforcement pursuit that developed as Unbound Gravel’s signature races were leaving Emporia.
Lyon County Sheriff Jeff Cope tells KVOE News the pursuit apparently started between the launch of the Elite 200 women’s field and the start for most remaining 200-mile riders. The suspect vehicle, a pickup truck, apparently ignored traffic control measures and went to Road 250 before turning west. Deputies chased the truck until it changed direction, at which time they called off the chase while also repositioning vehicles so the truck wouldn’t impact riders on the course.
The truck continued in a general westerly direction before turning south on Kansas Highway 99 at Road 240. Cope says the truck hit a deputy’s cruiser between Roads 230 and 220, sending the cruiser rolling into a ditch. The deputy, currently unnamed, was taken to Newman Regional Health for observation and possible treatment.
The truck, meanwhile, returned to Emporia, where Emporia Police arrested the currently unnamed suspect.
Cope says deputies are investigating the chase. Highway Patrol troopers are investigating the crash. Emporia Police may well be involved in the investigation due to their involvement with the arrest.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
